Apparatus for cleaning metal articles



April 29, 1941. c. H. HAMMELL APPARATUS FOR CLEANING METAL ARTICLES Filed June 12, 1939' 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 t m SN U mi 0 k w Wm m m m N.R. am NM April 29, 1941. c.' H. HAMMELL APPARATUS FOR CLEANING METAL ARTICLES 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 12, 1939 INVENTO R dages 5f flamzzz/Z ATTORNEY April 29, 1941.

c. H. HAMMELL APPARATUS FOR CLEANING METAL ARTICLES Filed June 12, 1959 6 Sheets-Shet 3 INVENTOR diaries l fi'amm'zil l'l'ill'lll'llrlIIIIIIIII'II/ IIIInnIII m 1a 2 a w, 1 6 5 u N 4 7 w b "a: 2 5 m 2 rs m I 4. km 2 2 M1 1 fl Mm 9 M w ATTO RN EY April 29, 1941.

C. H. HAMMELL I APPARATUS FOR CLEANING METAL ARTIcLEs' Filed June 12, 1939 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR w m M E d w W m K. w

April 2 c. H. HAMMEILL 2,240,246 7 APPARATUS FOR CLEANING METAL ARTICLES April 29, 1941. v c. H, HAMMEILL 2,240,246

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING METAL ARTICLES 7 Filed June 12, 1959 6 Sh'ets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR Patented Apr. 29, 1941 Charles K. Hammell, Mishawaka, ma, assignor to American Foundry Equipment Company Mishawaka, Ind., a corporation of Deia Application June 12, 19:9, sci-n1 No. 278,643

7 Claims. (c1. 51-9) This invention relates to the art of cleaning. polishing, hardening or otherwise modifyingthe surface characteristics of metal articles such as rials. It is particularly concerned with cleanin or otherwise treating heavy metal castings such as bath tubs, sinks, cylinder blocks, engine bases, furnace parts and the like which have certain surfaces requiring treatment diflerent from that required by certain other surfaces.

In cleaning such articles it is ordinarily desirable to relate the stream of abrasive to the article in such fashion as uniformly to subiect the exposed surfaces of the article to a uniform abrasive action from the abrasive particles. when the articles are small and sumciently rugged to withstand such treatment they may be tumbled in various kinds of apparatus designed for this purpose. When they are large and heavy or when they are insufliciently rugged to withstand a tumbling treatment it is necessary to .mount them independently in such fashion that they may be conveyed to and from the abrasive'stream without undue stress and with minimum loss of time, power and labor and with maximum efiiciency. Preferably the treatment of such large articlesshould be accomplished in such a way that th articles are treated successively as they are brought within effective range of the abrasive projecting stream and are conveyed thereto and therefrom in a substantially continuous column.

where such heavy articles have certain surfaces which require little or no cleaning, and certain other surfaces that require a high degree of cleaning, it is not commercially economical to subject all their surfaces to the same degree of treatment. Such is the case in the manufacture which will be concealed in the constructional elements of the building or other structure in which they are to be installed and which do not require such a finish. These latter surfaces require little or no cleaning, and the cleaning thereof in an abrasive projecting apparatus in the ordinary manner results in increased manufacturing costs with no resultant benefit.

It has been proposed to mount certain kinds of articles on supports and to .carry the same into the path of an abrasive stream while imparting a rotative movement to the supports. It

has also been proposed to reciprocate a casting in a vertical direction and simultaneously to sublect it to the abrasive action of a sand blast. With such devices it has not been possible to regulate the degree of abrasive action on predetermined parts of the exposed surfaces of the work piece and they have been otherwise unsuitable for the emcient and economical treatment of the large articles alluded to above.

It is an object of the present invention to provide apparatus for cleaning articles of the nature described by abrasive streams, in which the movement of the articles and the movement of the streams, are controlled and regulated so that certain predetermined portions of their surfaces are subjected to. a more intense treatment than certain other predetermined portions.

It is a further object of the invention to provide apparatus of the nature described in which the cleaning operation is concentrated upon certain predetermined surfaces. for instance upon those which will ultimately require a finish, and thus to avoid the loss of time, labor and power which would be entailed if the whole of said sur-. face of the article were subjected to identical.

- which the latter are suspended from movable supporting mechanisms which are intermittently I moved into such positions that one'or more castings can be subjected to the action of a controlled abrasive stream from one or more abrasive projecting wheels, during which time the said castings are subjected to a predetermined movement or a series ofmovements within the abrasive stream in order that certain surfaces thereofto be treated is suspended by means of a con-.

veyor mechanism which interposes the minimum of obstruction to the rapidly moving abrasive or of illustration and explanation, but it will be formation whereby the several portions of the I stream strike the article at varying angles thereby effectively treating both the raised and the depressed surfaces thereof.

Preferably a plurality of abrasive projecting stations are provided at which abrasive projecting mechanisms are provided and arranged to move in a direction generally transverse of the direction of movement of the article in order more thoroughly to clean the same and to distribute the abrasive stream thereover. A housing provided with suitable ingress and egress openings is provided to enclose the articles as they are subjected to treatment. The driving and controlling mechanisms for the various operating parts are disposed outside of this housing and thus protected from wear and damage which might result from contact with the abrasive.

Various other features and advantages of the invention will more clearly appear from the following specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Although the novel features which characterize the invention are particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto, the invention, its

understood that the details may be modified in various respects without departing from the principles of the invention.

It will be observed from an examination of Figs. 1 to 3 that the invention comprises separately suspending a plurality of articles In by means of spindles 8 from separate trolley units Ii and conveying the same,'preferably in a closed path, about track ii. The units II are conveyed by means of a driven chain I3 carrying a plurality of bifurcated driving yokes I, each of which engages a bushing II on the upper end of spindle 8 so that the trolley unit with which it is associated may be advanced along the track If. The chain It supports the yokes H by means of extended pins Ila and the said yokes are supported and guided by horizontal rollers IQ operating in a secondary closed track l'l located 7 they are subjected to the action of the abrasive object and advantages, and the manner in which it may be carried out will be better understood by referring to the following description taken in connection with the accompany ns drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of an-apparatus by means of which the principles of the invention may be utilized:

Fig.-2 is a front elevation thereof;

Fig.3isasectiontakenalonglines3-8of Fig. 2 in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section showing the lower portion of the treating chamber and the means of ingress thereto and egress therefrom:

Fig. 5 is an enlarged plan view with parts broken away showing the position taken by certain trolley units and their associated mechanisms during the time they carry objects through the abrasive stream;

Fig. 6 is a section taken along lines l of Fig. 7

Fig. 6a is a section taken along lines int-8a Fig. 7 is a section taken along lines Iv-J of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 8 is an enlarged section taken from the same point of observation as in Fig. 5, along line 8-8 of Fig. 6.

In the following description and in the claims various members will be identified by specific names for convenience, but they are intended to be as generic in their application as the art will permit.

streams a: and u from abrasive projecting wheels 0 and D, respectively. These wheels are preferably mounted for vertical movement, as will hereinafter be described. and comprise (see particularly Fig. 3) blades b radially disposed between side walls m (Figs. 1 and 2), at least one of which is secured in known manner to a shaft III for rotation by motor Ill through drive I.

The blades b terminate short of the axis of rotation of the wheel in order to define a centralapertureinwhichisdisposedacontroicage chavinganopeningotherein. Whahinthecago c is an impeller i for impelling abrasive fed centrally of the'device through a feed pipe I.

The construction of the abrasive projecting devioesasthusbriefiydescribedisnowwellknown intheartandneednotbefurtherdescribed. Abrasive fed into the feed pipes or spouts I is acted upon by the rotating blades 17 after it is flowed thereon through opening 0 in cage c and is thrown from the blades 11 at high velocity in the form of a generally fan-shaped spray as shown at :r or at u in Figure 3, the direction, volume and extent of the abrasive stream being controlled by the regulation of factors well known in the art.

The particular structure of the individual tl'Olrley'units II and their associated mechanism will more clearly appear from an examination of Figures 5 and 7. Referring particularly to Figure "I, the spindle is rotatably mounted in the body member ll of the trolley unit II and carries at its upper end a a hardened bushing ll,'free to turn about the spindle I and adapted tomake a rolling contact with the inner edges of the bifurcated driving yoke H (see Fig. 1). Above the bushing II a guide follower 43 is keyed to the upper end la of shaft 0. Throughout the greater portion of the travel of the trolley unit Ii around track I! the side wall a of guide follower ll contacts the side walls llb of track ll thereby preventing rotation of the spindle I until the trolley unit is moved onto the outwardly extended portion 1 1a of track I! so as to bring the trolley units H in such position as to susclosures of the invention are made for purposes p nd the articles III within the blast zone. Guide with the spinner head 43 when the trolley unit II is in blasting positionas will hereinafter be described.

Two. pairs of wheels 42 extend from the body portion 4| of the trolley unit and engage the lower rail of the track l2 so, that the trolley units may be conveyed around the track l2 as H i 9,240, follower 43 also serves to engage the spindle 3 the chain l3 movesdriving yokes I4 along their prescribed path. Each spindle 3 extends down-- wardly through a slotla in the top wall I of the blasting cabinet and carries a sleeve 3d pro.-

vided with a circular abrasive bafiie 3eron its intermediate portion immediately below the slot Ia and a hook member 3b. at its lower end por-- tion, the latter being adapted to engage an eye 3! in the hook member 3c which carries the article II to be cleaned, which .in the instance shown is a hollow casting of generally rectangular configuration.

AdJacent the slot Ia in the top of the clean-- ing cabinet I may be provided sealing members 33 preferably of rubber or; similar flexible material held in place by holding members 33, 33c

and 33b.

The chain H which drives the trolley units is carried by sprockets l3a and |3b located at opposite ends of the cleaning cabinet I. Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 the driving sprocket |3a is mountedon shaft l3 Journaled in a bearing disposed in bracket 23aiiixed to the upper iongitudinal frame member 2| disposed on uprights 3a, 3b. Shaft i3 carries gear 22 arranged in operative engagement with a gear 23 secured to clutch member 23 which is rotatably mounted on the end of shaft 24 which is iournaled in suitable bearings in the framework of the machine. A clutch member 23 fixed to drive sprocket I3 is also rotatably mounted on the shaft 24. A clutch sleeve 32 positioned between the clutch yoke l4 are given an oscillatory movement which members 23 and 23 is mounted for reciprocating moving on the shaft 24 but rotates'therewith.

Shaft 24 is driven from a motor 43 through sprocket 35, drive 33, sprocket 31, reduction gears 33 and drive 33 which latter may advantageously be of the variable speed type.

Also operating from shaft 24 is a countershaft 33 driven by gear 23 meshing withpinion 23 on shaft 24 and being provided with a cam 3| cooperating with a cam follower-disposed upon a lever 33 pivoted intermediate its ends on the clutch sleeve 32 and at its opposite end on a bracket 34 aflixed to the framework of the machine. The

gears and cams are selected and arranged so that the cam 3| moves clutch sleeve 32 into alternate engagement with clutch members 23 and 23 for predetermined intervals of time. When the clutch sleeve 32 is in engagement with clutch member 25 power from the motor 43 is applied to the shaft l3 so that the conveyor 13 is activated to move the trolley units |l around the track l2.

When the clutch sleeve 32 is engaged in clutch 23, power is transmitted to the mechanismswhich impart the desired movement to the article to be cleaned while they are suspended at stations A and B. These mechanisms will now be described:

As the trolley units I I move into stations A and B, the track I2 is separated from track II as at Thus the relationship of parts changes from that indicated at II of Figure l and in'l 'igure "l to that shown in Figures 5 and 6.

' The initial position of the spinner head as and its associated mechanism will be seen from an inspection of the upper part of Figure 6 when related to Figure 5.- This mechanism imparts controlled rotative movements to the spindle 3 and at the same time oscillatesit slowiy in a direction transverse to the abrasive stream. By the combined movements thus imparted to spindle 3 predetermined surfaces of the article l3 may be subjected to varying degrees of abrasive action as the article is simultaneously oscillated and rotated in the abrasive stream.

As indicated in the figures the spinner head 43 is provided with a slot 44 adapted to engage the guide follower 43. The spinner'head 43, is

mounted on a shaft 43 'iournaled in a sleevebearsuitable means, as by screws 33. When the spinner head 43 is in engagement with guide follower 43, the rollers |3 su porting yokes l4 and chain I3 are within the short section IIa of track l1, and when the arm 43 is rotated about bushing 43 the yoke I4 is simultaneously rotated throughout the same angle. Thus the" spinner head 43 and is accomplished by means of a-connecting rod 34 secured to the lower web of the arm by pin 33 in-a manner presently to be described.

The inside-bore of bushing 43 acts as a lower journal for the spinner unit drive shaft 34 the upper end of which is iournaled in a bearing 33 a attached to a bracket 31 carried by the stanchion 3 amxed to the framework of the machine. The shaft 34 is held from endwise movement by coilar 33 and sprocket 33, and thelower portion of shaft 34 carries sprocket 3| connected to sprocket 32 on shaft 43 by chain 33.

A controlled rotetive movement is imparted to the spinner mechanism by chain I3 trained around sprocket "on each spinning device. idlers I1 and IIa, idler I3 and sprocket 33 on vertical shaft 33 (see Figs. 1 and 5). Idlers II and IIa are disposed on a movable cross head I3 reciprocable inthe direction of the arrow (see Fig. 5) in bearings 13a. The idler I3 is supported in a hearing which is fixedly secured to a bracket 13a in the framework of the machine. I

Shaft 33 is rotated through bevel gears I4 and 14a from shaft 13, which carries sprocket I2 driven by chain II from sprocket I3 on shaft 24 when clutch sleeve 32'is. in engagement with clutch member 23. a v

The cross head I3 which carries sprockets I1, lid is reciprocated by a connecting rod l3, the

- end of which carries a camfollower, 33 running |2 so that the bushing l3 rides from the inner ends No of the driving yokes l4 to the outer ends |4b as' the track In causes the trolley units I to move outwardly. During this movement the guide followers 43, which have been b1183 the side of the conveyor track II as previouslydescribed are free to engage the spinner head 43.

on cam 3| disposed on shaft 13. Shaft I3 also carries a second cam 32 coacting with cam follower 33 on rod 34. The arms 43 are pivotally I connected to the'rod-34 by pins 35, each pin 33 extending through a slot 33 in oneof the arms 43, in the manner previously described. The cam 32 imparts an oscillatory motion to arms 43 so that they oscillate throughout a predetermined Bushing I3 is disangle about the bushings 09. This moves track section :IIa and associated mechanism so that the yokes I 4 are moved throughout the same angle as is illustrated in Fig. 8.

When the trolley units II arrive at station A, the guides 40 engage spinner heads II through slots 44 and the parts take the position shown in Figs. 5 and 6. At the same time, the clutch member 32 disengages from clutch member 25 and engages in clutch member 20. This stops the forward movement of the trolley units and puts the spinning and oscillating mechanism into operation. Through the driving connections previously described, the chain 15 is thus started on its travel around the sprockets 68, l8, I1, 60, 80 and 11a and imparts rotary motion to spindles 9 through sprockets 00, SI and 62 and chain 83. Let us say that during this time, the chain I5 is traveling in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 5 at a predetermined speed.

When the action of the cam BI is such as to move the cross head 18 to the left in the direction of the arrow in Fig.5, part of the movement of chain 15 is absorbed, thereby reducing the rate of speed of rotation of sprockets 60 and shafts 54, which reduction of speed is communicated by the means previously described to the spindles 9. During this time the spindles rotate more slowly and by properly positioning the objects I0 on their carriers predetermined surfaces thereof may during this time be subjected to the full effect of the abrasive streams. When the cam BI is further rotated to such position as to push connecting rod 19 toward the right, the cross head I8 is likewise moved to the right and will cause an increase in thespeed of rotation of the spin ner-unit driving shafts 48. Duringthe time this is going on, the cam 82 operating through cam follower 83 and rod 84 causes the arms 48 and yokes I4 to oscillate about an axis coincident with the center of the shaft 54, as shown in Fig. 8, and thus causes the articles I0 suspended at the ends of spindle 9 to oscillate slowly through and across the respective abrasive streams a: and y. The oscillation of the trolley units II through the angle determined by cam 82, and the slow and rapid turning of the spindle hook carrier 9 may cent the wheels proper are provided side rails I0! be timed to expose the work most advantageously to the action of the abrasive streamfrom devices c and D. In the case of bath tubs it is preferable to turn the articles slowly while their interior surfaces I0a, I 0b, I0c, I 011 and We are within the range of the abrasive streams, after which they are turned rapidly in order only momentarily to expose the surfaces I0 I00, I 0h, I0i and I01 to the said stream, see Figs. 3 and 8. In any case the relationship of movements can be adjusted so that the hard-to-clean portions of the wrok piece are brought within the direct blast of the abrasive for a longer time than the easy-to-' clean portions.

In order still more effectively to control the abrasive action, the abrasive projecting wheels C and D may be mounted for vertical reciprocation. It is preferable, as indicated more clearly in Fig. 2, to reciprocate the device C over a more elevated path or range than device D. By so relating the two devices, the angle at which abrasive thrown therefrom impinges the surfaces of the workpiece may be more eifectively varied and the cleaning of the desired surfaces of articles I0 controlled.

Each abrasive projector is mounted on a movable support I00 which carries abrasive projecting wheel shaft IOI journaled in bearings I02 and adapted to travel vertically on guide rollers I" mounted on the front face 5 of the apparatus. Firmly attached to brackets I01 on each base or support I00 are cables I00, each secured to one arm of a double segment member I00, which is provided with a sleeve III mounted on a shaft 0 which is rotatably supported in framework 0a, 0b, 0c and 0d.

Vertical reciprocationis imparted to the supports I00 and their associated structure, including the abrasive projecting wheels C and D, by means of an arm III secured to sleeve III and having its outer end connected by connecting rod I I3 to a pin I ll on a chain II! carried by sprockets H0 and Ill. As shown inFigs. l and 2, the sprocket II! is secured to shaft 10. It will be apparent that rotation of the cam shaft II not only imparts the desired rotative and oscillatory motion to the carrying spindles 0, but also through the instrumentalities just described imparts an up and down reciprocating movement to the abrasive projecting wheels 0 and D whereby the angle of impingement may be still further controlled.

It is desirable to confine the operation of projecting the abrasive within a substantially closed cabinet and for this purpose a treating chamber is provided, having an ingress wing 3a and an egress wing 3b, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 4. As shown in Fig. 3, a deflecting plate or baiiie H0 may be provided at the rear wall 30 of chamber 0.

As the workpieces I0 are carried by their respective trolley units I I along the path prescribed by the track If, the deflecting bailie 0c of the spindles 0 contact movable doors 00 held on pivots 9|, so that the forward travel of the workpieces opens the doors 00 for the entry thereof, after which springs 9Ia associated with the pivots or hinges 0| move the doors 90 back to their normally closed position.

At the bottom of the treating chamber 3, it is desirable to provide means for collecting spent abrasive. For this purpose, screw conveyors 94 are provided in order to force abrasive accumulated in the bottom portion 94a of the cabinet I into the boot 95 of an elevator 00, adapted to elevate the abrasive to a suitable hopper (not shown) from which it can be run through suitable conduits into the feeding spouts 1, indicated in Fig. 2. The screw conveyor and the elevating conveyor may be provided with sprockets 81 and connected by chain 80, so that the two conveyors may be operated from the same drive. The conveyors 94 and may be driven by motor 98 operating through drive 81.

It will be understood that the speed of the driving mechanism and the size, shape and position of the sprockets and cams are to be adjusted in such fashion as most effectively to carry out the principles outlined above. The cam 3| and the gearing to and from shaft 24 will of course beso constructed and related that'the conveyor I 0 will move the units II rapidly as they are carried to and from stations A and B, and so that such movement is accomplished without interfering-with the desired rotative and oscillatory movements of the spindles 9 or the reciprocative movements of projectors C and D.

While certain novel features of the invention have been disclosed and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes may be 5. Apparatus for blast cleaning metallic articles.

made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.

.What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for cleaning metallic articles such as metallic bath tubs, sinks, basins, cylinder including in combination, a track, an abrasive 5 projector disposed adjacent thereto, a plurality of trolley units disposed on said track each carrying a spindle on which the articles to be cleaned are adapted to be mounted,,a conveyor having yokes disposed thereon engaging said spindles l0 for moving the trolley'units along said track on actuation of said conveyor, a spinner head disposed above said track at a point adjacent said projector, said head having means for engaging said spindles when they arrive separately at said ing a spindle on which the articles to be cleaned are adapted to be mounted, a conveyor having yokes disposed thereon engaging said spindlesfor moving the trolley units along said track on actuation of said conveyor, aspinnerhead disposed above said track at a point adjacent said projector, said head having means for engaging said spindles when they arrive separately at said point, means for rotating said spindles, cam means for automatically modifying said rotative movement, and a second cam means for automatically simultaneously oscillating said spindles 3. In an apparatus for cleaning heavy metallic articles by projecting abrasive thereagainst including in combination an abrasive projecting wheel and a conveyor assembly for suspending the 40 articles and moving them through the abrasive stream thrown by said .wheel, means for automatically oscillating the articles and simultaneously rotating the same at varying speeds of rotation while they are within said stream.

4. Apparatus for blast cleaning metallic articles including in combination, means for separately suspending the articles to be cleaned, means for moving each article to a cleaning station, an

abrasive projector operative to direct a stream of article in said'stream whereby to expose predetermined portions of its surface to more. intense abrasive action than the remaining portions.

blocks, engine bases, furnace parts and the like, which articles have predetermined surfaces which require more thorough cleaning than other surfaces thereof, including in combination, means for automatically advancing said articles intermittently to a cleaning station, a centrifugal projector operable to' project a stream ofabrasive' particles against the articles positioned at said station, means for automatically turning said articles about a vertical axis at different speeds while in said stream and simultaneously reciprocating the articles in the stream along a horizontal plane whereby said predetermined surfaces are subjected to an intensive cleaning action and the other surfaces are subjected to a less intensive cleaning action.

6. Apparatus for blast cleaning metallicarticles including in combination, a generally horizontally extending track, an abrasive projector positioned at a station adjacent'said track, a plurality of article carrying devices supported on said track 'and adapted to be advanced therealong, an article supporting spindle rotatably connected to each of said carrying devices, a conveyor chain disposed alongside of said track having a plurality of yokes attached thereto, each of said yokes-being arranged to engage one of said carrying devices, driving means for imparting movement to said chain to move each of said article supporting spindles into, through, and out of said blasting station, a spinner head disposed above said track adjacent said station operative to engage a portion of the spindle advanced to said station, and

automatic means for turning said head alternately slowly and rapidly whereby the article supporting spindle engaged by said head is'given an alternately slow and rapid turning movement during its residence at said blasting station.

. 7. Apparatus for blast cleaning metallic articles including in combination, a generally horizontally extending article supporting. conveyor, means for driving said conveyor to advance said articles along a generally horizontally extending path, a pair of abrasive throwing wheels positioned adjacent the path of advance of said articles, driving means for each of said wheels, a vertically reciprocal support for each of said wheels and its associated driving means, a walking beam operably connected to each of said supports, and means for driving said walking beam to automatically reciprocate said wheels to shift the abrasive streams projected thereby. 

